About

We always talk about gaps in education. The opportunity gap. The achievement gap. Here’s one we never talk about: the information gap.

As parents we often feel in the dark, left out of the important meetings, and ignored. It’s time for all that to change. This blog was the the idea of a few parent activists who felt unheard, and felt that parents should have a place to learn, collaborate, and act on behalf of their children.

That sounded good at the time, but we really need your help. We have no staff. We have no phones. We have a blog and we intend to use it!

Memphis K12 is a grassroots blog for parents and students who haven’t been heard. These are your stories and your chance to have a voice.

How can you help? Well, can you write? Have any important tips? Can you help organize?

If so, please send us an email with your information at blog@memphisk12.education.

About Our Bloggers

Teresena Wright

Teresena is part of The Surge Team with Memphis Lift where she works as a senior parental outreach specialist. Born and raised in Memphis, she is the adoptive mother of her niece and nephew. Outside of her education advocacy work, she loves to sing and has even been professionally recorded. She loves children — which is good since she is surrounded by them all the time.

Elizabeth Jepsen

Lizzie was born and raised in small community in Alaska. In college, she studied and became passionate about education, leading her to Memphis.

“I knew that my exposure to the public education system in Alaska was not representative of public education throughout the U.S. I wanted to gain a better perspective and see and experience something different.” Lizzie teaches 7th grade English in the Frayser neighborhood of Memphis. Her main focus is to help close the achievement gap by giving her students the support and tools they need to succeed.

Marlena Little

Marlena Little, a Memphian by choice, relocated to Memphis to fight for educational equity. As a teacher, it was important for Marlena’s students to see her as an example of that escape. As an administrator, Marlena challenged teachers and staff to illuminate education as the way out, yet as a visionary, Marlena has created paths of escape.

As Founder of Life Prep Academy Schools, Marlena Little has seamlessly merged her childhood with the standard of excellence embedded in her educational experiences to provide students, regardless of any “label”, the limitless opportunities a high-quality education affords.